2 weeks later + 1 week home

Today feels like a milestone we should celebrate. 

Today marks 2 weeks since the accident and 1 week since he returned home!

And today was the best wound care appointment yet.  Nick (the nurse) rocked it! He tells Brig it gets better each time except for the tape on the hair. Yikes....waxing + wound care, all in one. 

His fasciotomy's are looking good and showing signs of healing.  We learned that Wound Vac's help heal wounds 50% faster...that is awesome + helps survive the pain 3 times a week. It reduces swelling, stimulates the growth of new tissue, + prevent infection.  Here is a pic of what the wound vac has sucked out in 2 days.


On Wednesday he was able to join us in the kitchen for dinner.  We set up his tray over in front of his wheelchair.  His leg did a little bit better at a lower elevation but he still likes it to be repositioned every so often to relieve pressure. He looks like a child ready to be served. Haha!


Ah....and we can't forget this breakfast of champions this week.  The yogurt message is a perfect reminder for all of us. Brigham has proven to be amazing through this experience.  He is willing to do what it takes and gives it his all. He has a good attitude, expresses gratitude and hopes to keep beating the milestones the doctors give him. 


Have a great weekend!  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day One- The Event (may be graphic details for some) + Surgery

Image
Here we are the day after a life changing day in our lives. The trauma + the miracles.  I'm hoping this will be helpful for everyone to access Brigham's updates. Plus, I'm thinking it will be therapeutic for me.  DAY ONE  8/7/2020 THE EVENT Friday morning (guessing 9:40ish)  Brigham was building deck stairs in the Francis' backyard by himself.  Somehow he accidentally cut himself with a skill saw on his right upper leg.  (I will stress this point, he did nothing wrong, we are pretty sure we have figured how it happened and it was a freak accident.) Neighbors came running as they heard his bloodcurdling scream.  Mom Francis (I don't have permission to use first names so I will refer to people as Mom + Dad) looked at her window and saw the blood.  She quickly grabbed towels, leaping off her deck to get to Brigham and immediately applying pressure.  Her husband was home and he ran out to help apply pressure and giving him a priesthood blessing. Thank you Francis famil
Read more

Tuesday 11th Update

Image
First thing, we found out that Brigham is reading the blog and the comments.  So he may see what you write.   Craig from the Trauma team is working on getting Brigham moved from the surgical floor to inpatient rehab (most likely will happen tomorrow).  They are also working with the insurance to get the following items for when he comes home and continues in home rehab: front wheel walker, wheelchair with an elevated leg and a wound vac. He shouldn't need anymore transfusions.  His hemoglobin levels are increasing at a good rate now. So I believe in simple terms- he is making his own blood.  The doctor from the Vascular team (wish I had a name, this is where not being there with him is tricky) says the plan for now is to let the fasciotomy heal + close on its own- which may take a month or two. Or since he is young it may happen quicker.  Leg pulse continues to be good. He will need to be on a low dose of aspirin for at least a year to prevent clots. As far as PT he will be doing i
Read more

Guess who went outside?

Image
 Today during afternoon PT Brigham was able to walk from the right side of his bed to the left side of his bed. Wahoo! We are impressed.  He said the therapist walked behind him but he was able to use the walker and do it himself.  The right leg is still so heavy so it is more of a drag than a step. And he was able to go to the bathroom standing up.  This is a big deal!  It was tricky but he did it. And he got to go outside!  Doesn't he look so good?  He's alive!  My heart could just burst with happiness and gratitude.  I keep hearing more tidbits about his time in the helicopter + in surgery and I am in awe of the miracle that he is alive. I am so thankful for everything that everyone did. You see that machine on his lap?  That is a wound vac and he will becoming home with one of those.  I'm not sure if it is that size or smaller but they said he could put it in a backpack to carry it around with him. This helps the fasciotomy heal. 
Read more